Encampment Resolution Funding Program,
Round 2,
Second Disbursement
(ERF-2-R)
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
December 1, 2022
Table of Contents
I. Grant Overview ............................................................................................................................. 2 A. ERF-2-R Objective ...................................................................................................................... 2 B. Authority...................................................................................................................................... 2 C. Background................................................................................................................................. 3 D. Eligible Applicants....................................................................................................................... 3 E. Eligible Population to Serve ........................................................................................................ 3 F. Rounds of Funding...................................................................................................................... 3 G. Available Funds........................................................................................................................... 4 H. Key Dates.................................................................................................................................... 4 I. Applicant Conference:................................................................................................................. 5 II. Required Application Elements, Evaluation Criteria, And Prioritized Factors..........................5 A. Required Application Elements.................................................................................................... 5 B. Evaluation Criteria....................................................................................................................... 6 C. Prioritized Factors ....................................................................................................................... 6 III. Eligible Uses ................................................................................................................................. 6 A. Eligible Uses................................................................................................................................ 6 B. Budgets....................................................................................................................................... 7 IV. Application.................................................................................................................................... 8 A. ERF-2-R Application ................................................................................................................... 8 V. Application Submission............................................................................................................. 10 A. Submission Portal Requirements............................................................................................... 10 VI. Review, Scoring, And Award ..................................................................................................... 10 A. Review ...................................................................................................................................... 10 B. Scoring...................................................................................................................................... 11 C. Award........................................................................................................................................ 13 D. Appeals ..................................................................................................................................... 14 VII. Performance And Reporting ...................................................................................................... 14 A. Performance.............................................................................................................................. 14 B. Reporting .................................................................................................................................. 14 1 California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) Encampment Resolution Funding Program, Round 2, Second
Disbursement (ERF-2-R)
Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA)
I. GRANT OVERVIEW
A. ERF-2-R Objective
The Encampment Resolution Funding (ERF) Program will fund actionable, person- centered local proposals that resolve the experience of unsheltered homelessness for people residing in encampments. Resolving these experiences of homelessness will necessarily address the safety and wellness of people within encampments, resolve critical encampment concerns, and transition individuals into interim shelter with clear pathways to permanent housing or directly into permanent housing, using data- informed, non-punitive, low-barrier, person-centered, Housing First, and coordinated approaches.
Proposals may bolster existing, successful models and/or support new approaches that provide safe stable, and ultimately permanent housing for people experiencing homelessness in encampments.
B. Authority
Under the authority of Chapter 7 of Part 1 of Division 31 of the California Health and Safety Code (HSC) (sections 50250 et seq.), the Encampment Resolution Funding Program (Program) was established to increase collaboration between the California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH), Local Jurisdictions, and Continuums of Care for the following purposes:
• Assist Local Jurisdictions in ensuring the safety and wellness of people experiencing homelessness in encampments.
• Provide grants to Local Jurisdictions and continuums of care to resolve critical encampment concerns and transition individuals into safe and stable housing. • Encourage a data-informed, coordinated approach to address encampment concerns.
The ERF Program was initially authorized in 2021 through Assembly Bill (AB) 140 (Chapter 111, Statutes of 2021), which allocated $50 million for what would become the first round of funding. SB 197 (Chapter 70, Statutes of 2022) amended the program and AB 178 (Chapter 45, Statutes of 2022) allocated an additional $300 million for Round 2 of ERF funding.
2 C. Background
Cal ICH was created in 2017 to oversee the implementation of Housing First policies, guidelines, and regulations to reduce the prevalence and duration of homelessness in California. Cal ICH’s mission is to develop policies and to identify and coordinate resources, benefits, and services to prevent and work toward ending homelessness in California.
The ERF Program is a 4-year grant program that includes two rounds of funding: $50 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2021-22 (ERF-1) and $300 million in FY 2022-23 (ERF-2) to provide grants to Local Jurisdictions and continuums of care to resolve critical encampment concerns and transition individuals into safe and stable housing.
The first disbursement from the $300 million of ERF-2 funds was provided to applicants from ERF-1 that satisfactorily met all program requirements but had not been awarded grants due to lack of available funds.
This NOFA is for the remaining $237,301,738 of ERF-2 funds. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 30, 2023, or until all funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. Up to $150 million will be prioritized for proposals that serve people living in encampments on state right-of-ways.
D. Eligible Applicants
• Local Jurisdiction – means a city, including a charter city, a county, including a charter county, or a city and county, including a charter city and county. • Continuum of Care (CoC) – as defined in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
o Per statute (AB 178, Budget Act of 2022), Local Jurisdictions have priority to apply for ERF programs on state right-of-ways, over CoC applicants, until a date specified by Cal ICH. If a CoC applies for an ERF proposal located on a state right-of-way before May 1, 2023, the CoC must provide a Letter of Local Acknowledgment from each overlapping Local Jurisdiction that identifies the prioritized encampment and confirms that the CoC has communicated with each Local Jurisdiction and that no Local Jurisdiction intends to apply for ERF- 2-R funds for the prioritized encampment.
E. Eligible Population to Serve
ERF-2-R funds may only be used for proposals that connect people experiencing homelessness in encampments to interim shelter with clear pathways to permanent housing or place people directly into permanent housing.
F. Rounds of Funding
• ERF-1 is Round 1 of the Encampment Resolution Funding Program. It featured one disbursement totaling $48 million to 19 jurisdictions. • ERF-2 is Round 2 of the Program. It features at least two disbursements. 3 o ERF-2’s first disbursement (ERF-2-L) was made available to jurisdictions that applied for ERF-1, satisfactorily met all applicable program requirements, but did not receive awards due to lack of available funds. $47.7 M was awarded to eight jurisdictions (ERF-2-L indicates a lookback to unfunded ERF-1 applicants).
o ERF-2’s second disbursement (ERF-2-R) is made available through this NOFA (ERF-2-R indicates a rolling application process).
G. Available Funds
• Up to $237,301,738 are available for award through ERF-2-R. o Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until June 30, 2023, or until funds are exhausted, whichever is sooner.
o Pursuant to the Budget Act of 2022 (Section 20 of AB 178), up to 50 percent of the $300 million authorized for ERF-2 shall be prioritized for Local Jurisdictions with proposals that address encampments on state right-of-ways and that meet priority criteria established by Cal ICH in consultation with the Department of Transportation.
H. Key Dates
The rolling Application Window will open upon the release of this NOFA and the accompanying ERF-2-R application on December 1, 2022, and will remain open until June 30, 2023, or until all program funds have been exhausted, whichever comes first.
Applications will be reviewed in batches as illustrated in the table and diagram below.
Applications for projects on state right-of-ways will be prioritized in this review process.
If a CoC applies for an ERF proposal located on a state right-of-way (SROW) before May 1, 2023 (during Application Window #1 or #2), the CoC must provide a Letter of Local Acknowledgment from each overlapping Local Jurisdiction that identifies the prioritized encampment and confirms that no Local Jurisdiction intends to apply for funding for the prioritized encampment.
Table, ERF-2-R Events Responsible
Party
Date(s)
NOFA Release Date Cal ICH 12/01/2022
Application Release Date Cal ICH 12/01/2022
Application Window #1 Applicant 12/1/2022 - 2/28/2023
Application Window #2
Review and Award Window #1 Applications
Applicant
Cal ICH
3/1/2023 - 4/30/2023
Letter of Local Acknowledgement No Longer
Required for CoC Applications on SROW Applicant 5/1/2023 Application Window #3
Review and Award Window #2 Applications
Applicant
Cal ICH
5/1/2023 - 6/30/2023
Review and Award Window #3 Applications Cal ICH 7/1/23 - 8/31/23 Deadline to Expend 50 Percent of Allocation Applicant 6/30/2024 Deadline to Obligate 100 Percent of Allocation Applicant 6/30/2024 Deadline to Expend 100 Percent of Allocation Applicant 6/30/2026 4 Diagram, Application Window and Review
2022
DEC
2023
JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG
Application Window 1
Review of Window 1
Applications
Application Window 2
Review of Window 2
Applications
Application Window 3
Review of Window 3
Applications
I. Applicant Conference:
General questions may be submitted by email to [email protected], with a heading “ERF-2-R” for the duration of the rolling application period. Please know that Cal ICH will likely respond to any inquiries through official channels that are directed to the entire eligible applicant pool (i.e., Applicant Conference, FAQ, or if necessary, an addendum to this NOFA). A non-mandatory Applicant Conference is a space for Cal ICH to walk through the application and submitted questions and answer live questions, as time permits. This conference will last an hour and is for informational purposes only.
Attendance is voluntary and the conference will be recorded and posted on Cal ICH’s website for viewing as your schedule permits.
To have your question answered in the Applicant Conference, please email questions to [email protected] with subject line: ERF-2-R by 5pm 12/21/2022.
Conference date and time: 1/05/2023 @ 10:00 – 11:00 AM Pacific Time Register in advance for this webinar:
(https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_vHuyirIjTgKzNwIC170QzQ).
Applicant Conference Agenda:
• Welcome and Introduction
• NOFA Overview
• Answer Questions Submitted to Cal ICH
• Live Questions (as time permits)
II. REQUIRED APPLICATION ELEMENTS, EVALUATION CRITERIA, AND PRIORITIZED
FACTORS
A. Required Application Elements
Eligible applicants must submit an Application in a form and manner specified by Cal ICH; the Application must include minimum elements as described in HSC Section 50252.1(c)(4). The Application made available through the Cognito Submission Portal includes all the minimum elements.
5 B. Evaluation Criteria
In determining which Applications to fund, Cal ICH shall evaluate and score proposals based on specific criteria as described in HSC Section 50251(c)(2). These specific criteria are operationalized through and located in the ERF-2-R Scoring Matrix at Section VI.A and B of this NOFA.
C. Prioritized Factors
In accordance with HSC Section 50252.1(c)(5), in awarding grants, funding shall be prioritized for both of the following:
• Applications that demonstrate cross-systems collaboration, including collaborations with state and federal entities, and innovative efforts to resolve encampment issues, while focusing on protecting the health and well-being of the individuals living in those encampments.
• Applications that represent the diversity of communities across the state, including, but not limited to, rural, urban, and suburban communities.
III. ELIGIBLE USES
A. Eligible Uses
Applicant’s program design and objective and their proposed eligible uses must advance ERF-2-R’s objective, which is set forth at Section I.A of this NOFA.
Proposal design may include any combination of the following ten Eligible Use categories:
Eligible
Use
Category
Non-Exhaustive List of Eligible Activities Applied to the Eligible Population
Rapid
Rehousing
Rapid rehousing, including housing identification services, rental subsidies, security deposits, incentives to landlords, and holding fees for eligible persons, housing search assistance, case management and facilitate access to other community-based services.
Operating
Subsidies
Operating subsidies in new and existing affordable or supportive housing units, emergency shelters, and navigation centers. Operating subsidies may include operating reserves.
Street
Outreach
Street outreach to assist eligible persons to access crisis services, interim housing options, and permanent housing and services.
Services
Coordination
Services coordination, which may include access to workforce, education, and training programs, or other services needed to improve and promote housing stability for eligible persons, as well as direct case management services being provided to persons. 6 Systems
Support
Systems support for activities that improve, strengthen, augment, complement, and/or are necessary to create regional partnerships and a homeless services and housing delivery system that resolves persons’ experiences of unsheltered homelessness.
Delivery of
Permanent
Housing
Delivery of permanent housing and innovative housing solutions, such as unit conversions that are well suited for eligible persons.
Prevention
and Shelter
Diversion
Prevention and shelter diversion to permanent housing, including flexible forms of financi
al assistance, problem solving assistance, and
other services to prevent people that have been placed into permanent housing from losing their housing and falling back into unsheltered homelessness. This category is only available to serve people who were
formerly residing in the prioritized ERF encampment
site.
Interim
Sheltering
Interim sheltering, limited to newly developed clinically enhanced congregate shelters, new or existing noncongregate shelters, and operations of existing navigation centers and shelters based on demonstrated need that are well suited for eligible persons.
Improvements
to Existing
Emergency
Shelters
Improvements to existing emergency shelters to lower barriers, increase privacy, better address the needs of eligible persons, and improve outcomes and exits to permanent housing.
Administrative
Costs
Administrative costs incurred by the city, county, continuum of care, to administer its program allocation. Up to 5% of grant funds may be applied to administrative costs.
Site restoration is not a permitted Eligible Use for ERF-2-R funds.
B. Budgets
Applicants must use the standardized budget template available at Box.com:
(https://dca.box.com/s/3hil5rn8zp4g4q91r619fjlt2lrc6qvl). Where necessary, applicants may modify the budget template.
These budgets will be submitted through the Cognito submission portal:
(https://www.cognitoforms.com/CaliforniaInteragencyCouncilOnHomelessness/ERF2 RApplication).
Applicants must demonstrate a reasonable effort to correctly categorize their budgets into the appropriate Eligible Uses. Additionally, if one larger proposal may fall within two or more Eligible Use categories, applicants should split up the line item so that Cal ICH staff can track and better understand proposal components. 7 IV. APPLICATION
A. ERF-2-R Application
The ERF-2-R Application is a questionnaire style survey and has three required parts. A submitted Application that deviates from the following requirements may be considered nonresponsive and may be disqualified from the evaluation.
1. Part 1: Administrative Information
Requires the applicant to provide information pertaining to jurisdiction type, implementing organization, and contacts.
2. Part 2: Proposal Overview
Requires the applicant to provide information on three main areas:
a) People Served: including metrics on how many people are living in the prioritized encampment and how many people are proposed to be served. b) Encampment Information: including a description of the people living in the prioritized encampment, the physical characteristics of the encampment, why the site and the people residing there are being prioritized, and whether the encampment is located entirely or partially on a state right-of-way. This includes:
• Attachment, Map: Applicants must submit a map of the encampment site proposed to be served with ERF-2-R funds.
• If applicable, Attachment, Caltrans Letter of Support: Projects entirely or partially on a state right-of-way must include a Letter of Support from Caltrans.
This letter must include confirmation from Caltrans that they are aware of and in support of the ERF project, including the projected timeline, and that they will only take action on that encampment site in collaboration with and with at least two weeks-notice to the ERF grantee, unless critical circumstances exist when an encampment poses an imminent threat to life, health, safety, or infrastructure and must be immediately addressed.
This letter should be signed by the local Caltrans Deputy District Director of Maintenance (DDDM) or their designee.
This letter may also include Caltrans role in the proposal and what Caltrans resources are being leveraged.
c) Proposal’s Outcomes: including a description of the proposal’s planned outcomes, activities to support meeting these outcomes, and how the applicant will measure their progress.
8 3. Part 3: Implementation
Requires the applicant to provide details around proposal implementation around five key areas:
a) Centering People: includes data, evidence, etc. that informed the proposal’s design, how input from people with lived expertise was meaningfully incorporated into the proposal, the proposal’s adherence to Housing First, the proposal’s delivery of trauma informed housing services and supports, as well as how the proposal will prioritize the dignity, health and safety of people experiencing homelessness in the encampment.
b) Core Service Delivery and Housing Strategies: including the proposed outreach strategies and/or service coordination for the persons experiencing homelessness while they continue to reside in the encampment, the proposed living situations immediately following the encampment, displacement mitigation strategies, commitment and ability to deliver permanent housing, service pathways to permanent housing, and strategies to mitigate returns to unsheltered homelessness.
c) Budget and Resource Plan: including the total amount of ERF-2-R funds requested, the amount and description of non-ERF resources that will support the proposal, and an explanation for how the requested amount was determined based on the number of people served and the housing options provided. This includes:
• Attachment, Standardized Budget: Applicants must use the standardized budget template available at Box.com:
(https://dca.box.com/s/3hil5rn8zp4g4q91r619fjlt2lrc6qvl). Where necessary, applicants may modify the budget template. For guidance on Eligible Uses and categorization, see Eligible Uses in Section III.A. d) Key Entities and Staff: including the experience and qualifications for the implementing organization and key partners, evidence of collaboration between Local Jurisdiction(s) and the CoC, as well as identification of the primary parties with rights to and/or control of the property upon which the encampment resides (Caltrans, Union Pacific, private landowner, etc.) and their shared understanding of and commitment to the implementation of the proposal. For proposals on state right-of-ways, applicants must describe how they collaborated with Caltrans on their program design, implementation plans, and projected timeline.
• If applicable, Attachment, Letter of Local Acknowledgement: Local Jurisdictions have priority to apply for ERF programs on state right-of- ways. If a CoC is applying for an ERF project for an encampment that is entirely or partially on a state right-of-way before May 1, 2023, the CoC must include a Letter of Local Acknowledgment from each overlapping jurisdiction. This letter must confirm that the applicant has communicated with each overlapping Local Jurisdiction and that no overlapping jurisdiction intends to apply for ERF-2-R funds for this particular encampment.
9 e) Accelerated Timeline: including how your community will act urgently and efficiently while prioritizing the dignity, safety and wellness of people experiencing homelessness within the encampment site and proposal milestones. This includes:
• Attachment, Timeline: Applicants must use the standardized timeline template for the appropriate application window available at Box.com:
Timeline for Application Window 1 (through February 28, 2023) (https://dca.box.com/s/44esrb8roe0pc3lmm3y7h1v4qkja8qbk) Timeline for Application Window 2 (through April 30, 2023) (https://dca.box.com/s/mn0oepvjshisp6asdg32g0duxfhy0phy) Timeline for Application Window 3 (through June 30, 2023) (https://dca.box.com/s/kl1r5ndssno0uygi66sz7b4zooweolts) V. APPLICATION SUBMISSION
A. Submission Portal Requirements
Applicants will utilize the Cognito submission portal:
(https://www.cognitoforms.com/CaliforniaInteragencyCouncilOnHomelessness/ERF2RA pplication).
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis beginning on December 1, 2022, until June 30, 2023, or until all funds have been exhausted, whichever occurs first. As detailed above in the Key Dates table, this rolling application period will span three possible application submission windows. Complete applications submitted and received by 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the corresponding application window, will be reviewed and evaluated as a batch for that window. Applications received after 5:00 p.m. on the last day of the application window will be reviewed and evaluated during the following application window. Because Cal ICH does not have control over the platform’s timing apparatus and uploading speed, and to mitigate for unforeseen occurrences, applicants are strongly encouraged to submit by noon on the last day of the corresponding application window. For example, applications submitted during application window #1 for the period of December 1, 2022 through February 28, 2023, must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. on February 28, 2023, and applicants are encouraged to submit by noon on that day to mitigate any unforeseen occurrences in the Cognito application portal. Applicants are permitted to submit a “test” submission at a time of their choosing to familiarize themselves with the Application and the Cognito platform. The Cognito platform will instruct applicants how to navigate this process.
VI. REVIEW, SCORING, AND AWARD
A. Review
Phase 1 – Administrative Review: Applications will be reviewed and evaluated for completeness of NOFA specifications, including checking that the application was submitted on behalf of an eligible applicant. In this review stage, reviewers will compare the contents of each application to ensure that all required items are populated and / or received. Applications that are not complete or do not contain all the required items and attachments will be considered non-responsive and may be disqualified from the evaluation.
10 Phase 2 – Scoring Review: Cal ICH and/or its designee will convene an evaluation panel of three qualified individuals who have knowledge and experience of the state grantmaking process and subject matter of the Program (Evaluation Panel). The Evaluation Panel will review and score applications in accordance with the ERF Scoring Matrix below. This panel will produce an application’s average score. Applications eligible for funding must score an average of at least 70 of the possible 100 points. In addition to receiving an average total score of at least 70, all applicant scores must average no less than the minimum scoring threshold for each of the following sections:
1) People Served and Encampment Information (must receive 3 out of the 5 possible points)
2) Proposal’s Outcomes (must receive 10 out of the 15 possible points) 3) Centering People (must receive 16 out of the 20 possible points) 4) Core Service Delivery and Housing Strategies (must receive 11 out of the 15 possible points)
5) Budget and Resource Plan (must receive 10 out of the 15 possible points) 6) Key Entities and Staff (must receive 10 out of the 15 possible points) 7) Accelerated Timeline (must receive 10 out of the 15 possible points) B. Scoring
The Evaluation Panel will review and consider the totality of the information in the Application when determining whether the Application satisfies the minimum scoring threshold. However, applicants should respond to each Application criteria in the proper Application section to ensure all requirements are met.
ERF-2-R Scoring Matrix
Proposal Overview Factors that satisfy minimum scoring threshold:
People Served and
Encampment
Information
(Must receive 3 out
of the 5 possible
points)
• Clearly describes the characteristics and demographics of the people living in the prioritized encampment and the physical aspects of the encampment including location, size of area, types of structures onsite, and vehicles present.
• Makes a logical and compelling case for why the identified encampment site is being prioritized.
Proposal’s
Outcomes
(Must receive 10 out
of the 15 possible
points)
• Proposal’s outcomes meaningfully align with ERF-2-R's objective (set forth at Section I.A of this NOFA).
• Outcomes are specific, measurable, realistic, and time-based. • Logically describes how progress will be measured and outcomes achieved.
• Applicant demonstrates an above average likelihood of achieving the Proposal’s Outcomes.
11 Implementation Factors that satisfy minimum scoring threshold:
Centering People
(Must receive 16 out
of the possible 20
points)
• Uses well-informed analyses or the perspectives of people with lived experience of homelessness to inform the proposal’s decisions, processes, and actions which should advance the wellbeing of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the identified encampment.
• Aligns with and exemplifies Housing First approaches. • Provides trauma informed services and supports,
operationalizes harm reduction, and centers an individual’s choice and preferences.
• Prioritizes the dignity, health, and safety of people experiencing homelessness in the encampment.
• Details the controls in place to not “penalize homelessness.” Core Service
Delivery and
Housing Strategies
• Includes a comprehensive outreach and engagement strategy including case management and service coordination for
people currently residing in the encampment.
(Must receive 11 out • Details identified interim shelter and permanent housing of the possible 15 options and includes a description of how many individuals are points) projected to be served with each interim and permanent housing solution.
• Includes compelling evidence of an applicant’s demonstrated ability and commitment to deliver permanent housing for people residing in the prioritized encampment. Compelling evidence may include identification, availability, and
prioritization of permanent housing resources.
• Describes how the proposed service delivery model is tailored to meet the needs and preferences of the people residing in the encampment site.
• Uses data and input from people with lived experience of homelessness to inform housing and service needs,
preferences, and the availability of resources to meet those needs and preferences.
• Details strategies likely to prevent displacement from the prioritized encampment to another unsheltered location and prevent returns to unsheltered homelessness.
• Details operable plans to support individuals with the storage of their property and care of their pets.
Budget and
Resource Plan
• Demonstrates a sustainable, prudent, and effective use of requested funding.
(Must receive 10 out • Budget aligns with achieving the proposal's outcomes, services of the possible 15 and housing options, and number of people served. points)
• Identifies non-ERF-2-R resources that will be leveraged to 12 support proposal implementation including coordination of resources from other systems that would increase services and housing options.
Key Entities and
Staff
(Must receive 10 out
of the possible 15
points)
• Includes a detailed description of the lead entity that will oversee the implementation of activities in the proposal. Describe lead entity’s mission, goals, values, geographic service area and existing efforts related to serving persons living in
encampments.
• Demonstrates the ability to recruit and deploy personnel with experience and expertise needed to support the success of the proposal.
• Demonstrates commitment to cross-systems collaboration with descriptions of key contributions of each organization and local community partners including their experience and expertise in serving persons experiencing unsheltered homelessness with a range of service needs.
• Demonstrates collaboration between Local Jurisdiction(s) and the CoC for this proposal.
• Demonstrates capacity to carry out the proposal.
• Identifies the primary parties with rights to and / or control of the property upon which the encampment resides and their shared understanding of and commitment to the implementation of the proposal.
• If the encampment is on a state right-of-way, the proposal describes how the applicant collaborated with Caltrans on their program design, implementation plan, and projected timeline.
Accelerated
Timeline
(Must receive 10 out
of the possible 15
points)
• Demonstrates how the community will act urgently and
efficiently while prioritizing the dignity, safety and wellness of people experiencing homelessness within the encampment site. • Demonstrates likelihood of meeting proposal milestones and objectives.
C. Award
After each application window has closed and all applications received during the window have been reviewed and scored, a Notice of Intent to Award shall be posted on the Cal ICH website and shall be sent by email to the proposed awardees.
Once awards have been determined by Cal ICH, a contract packet including the Standard Agreement and Request for Funds Form (RFF) form will be prepared and sent to the grantee. The grantee will return the signed Standard Agreement and RFF. Funds will be disbursed to the grantee upon receipt, review and approval of the completed Standard Agreement and RFF by Cal ICH, the Department of General Services (DGS) and the State Controller’s Office (SCO). The RFF must include the total amount of funds 13 proposed for expenditure. Grant funds will be disbursed via mailed check once the RFF has been received by the SCO. Checks will be mailed to the address and contact name listed on the RFF.
Applications that are denied funding will be provided Evaluation Panel feedback.
Applicants are encouraged to incorporate this feedback and reapply in the next Application Window. Projects on state right-of-ways will be prioritized in this feedback process.
D. Appeals
Pursuant to HSC Section 50251(c)(1), Cal ICH’s decision to approve or deny an application and the determination of the amount of funding to be provided shall be final and is not subject to appeal.
VII. PERFORMANCE AND REPORTING
A. Performance
Performance shall start no later than 30 days, or on the express date set by Cal ICH and the grantees, after all approvals have been obtained and the Standard Agreement is fully executed. Should the grantee fail to commence work at the agreed upon time, Cal ICH, upon five (5) days written notice to the grantee, reserves the right to terminate the Agreement. All performance under the Agreement shall be completed on or before the termination date of the Agreement.
ERF-2-R funds not expended by the 6/30/26 deadline shall be returned to Cal ICH and will revert to the fund of origin.
B. Reporting
The grantee shall submit quarterly reports to Cal ICH with fiscal and programmatic data reflecting the progress of their ERF program in a format provided by Cal ICH. These quarterly reports will include an anonymized person served list illustrating the housing outcomes of each person served by the grantee’s ERF program. Grantees may also receive ad hoc requests for information from Cal ICH or its contractors in support of program monitoring, research, and evaluation. Grantees with projects on state right-of- ways may also be required to provide programmatic data to Caltrans.
At the end of the grant period, or upon request by Cal ICH, all grantees shall provide information and products developed with grant funds on service delivery models including any materials that may be necessary to study the program or replicate it for implementation across the state.
14